Car-coupling



(No Model.)

- W. G. STRUBBE. I

GAE COUPLING.- No. 257,529 Patented May 9,1882.

mtnesses: fnveniar:

UNTTED STATES PATENT Craters.

WILLIAM G. ST tUBBE, CF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

CAR-COUPLING.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. STRUBBE, of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplers, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of the improved coupler with the pin elevated and the tripping device in position to receive the draw-head of the approaching car. Fig. 2 is a view of the same with the tripping device forced in by contact with the approaching draw-head. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same. Fig. L is a perspective view of the improved form of link. Fig. 5 is a perspective elevation of the tripping device for the draw-head.

The object of this invention is to construct a car-coupler so arranged that, first, the pin can be held at a point above the aperture of the draw-head by atrippingdevice which drops the pin when the adjacent draw-heads strike each other; and, second, providing a link which has a prolongation or extension at one end, weighted so that the link proper will project from the draw-head in which it is placed, and while so projecting it will remain in a horizontal position, or nearly so, whether the pin is in its socket or not.

In the accompanying drawings, Arepresents the draw-head, of the ordinary form exteriorly, with the aperture preferably deeper than the common draw-head and enlarged at the rear end, A, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to accommodate the weighted end of the link in its movements or the draw-h ead may be slotted through from side to side. This is provided with the usual pinhole, B, through the upper and lower walls. The upper wall is preferably made thicker, as shown at B, where the pin-hole passes througln'so that when the lower end of the pin is elevated'to or above the roof of the aperture the pin will not be so liable to tilt and bind.

In the upper wall of the draw-head is a dovetailed groove, C, which extends back a short distance to the rear of the pin-hole. At the.

forward end of this cavity, D, as shown.

E is the tripping device, having flaring sides to fit the dovetailed groove C. This is provided groove is an enlarged SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,529, dated May 9, 1882.

Application filed March 16, 1882.

X0 model.)

at its forward end with a head, F, to fit the enlarged'cavity D of the draw-head. On the under forward sloping surface is a cavity, F, to be used by the operator to draw out the said device preparatory to coupling. Centrally the tripping device E is provided with an elongated slot, G, and leading from the rcar'end of this slot, on the upper face, is a depression or incline, H, in which the pin is placed when this depressed part is moved beneath the pin-hole of the draw-head.

I represents a pin which passes through the upper wall of the draw-head in front of and in close proximity to the pin-hole B. This pin I passes through the elongated slot G of the tripping device, and is designed merely to hold the said tripping device in the draw-head when the coupling-pin is withdrawn.

It is obvious that various methods of holding the tripping device may be employed.

The link J is provided with a tapering end, J, so that when it approaches the draw-head it will more readily enter the aperture. The opposite end of the link K is produced or extended a distance equal to one-third or more the length of the pin proper. Thisjs designed to act as a weight or poise for the link as it rests in the aperture.

In Fig. 1 the dotted lines show a modified fornnof pin permanently attached to the drawhead. The line N represents the rear face or curve of the pin-hole, and 0 represents a depression to the rear of the pin-hole, in which the lower end of the pin P rests when drawn out of the pin-hole. When the permanent pin P is used there is no necessity of casting the draw-head with the elevation B. The pin P has a right-angled extension or limb, Q, and at the angle or upper end of the pin P is an aperture, R, by means of which the brakeman can raise the pin. The limb Q, projects backward and downward, and has a T-head, S, which works in the slots U of the guideway T. This guideway may be part of the drawhead, cast therewith, or attached to the ordinary draw-heads.

The operation of the permanent link is plain: When the pin P is not in use it rests in the depression or cavity 0. When desired to couple it is raised out of the cavity and put into the pin-hole B. The tripping device having first been drawn forward, so that the inclined cavity H is beneath the pin-hole, it will be observed that the slotted guideway T will permit the pin P to move backward and forward a limited distance.

I reserve the right to hereafter apply for a separate patent for the permanent pin, as described. My object in this place being simply to show its operation in connection with the subject-matter of this application.

The operation of the coupler is as follows: Preparatory to coupling the tripping device E is drawn out, so that the inclined cavity G is directly beneath the coupling-pin aperture. Thus the pin rests on the tripping device, while the head F projects beyond the end of the draw-head. In coupling, the link performs no office in tripping the pin; but as the buffer or draw-heads approach each other the head F is driven in, causing the pin L to slide down the incline H and fall through the elongated slot G, thus holding the link, which has, itwill be supposed, entered from the approaching car. The link itself, being unequally weighted, will rest horizontally, or thereabout, in the aperture, and thus at all timesbe in a position to engage with the approaching draw-head.

It will be noticed that this invention does not change the location of the coupling-pin aperture, and that' whenever a car containing this improved draw-head is used on other roads the link, as herein described, may be employed or not. The weighted link is not a necessary part of this coupling device, nor is the tripping mechanism specially adapted for the link. The link herein shown is adapted for any draw-head in which the present style of pin and link is used, provided the aperture to the rear of the pin is of sufficient depth and broad size to receive the weighted end.

WVhat I claim is 1. In car-couplers, the draw-head provided with an enlarged cavity, A, to the rear of the pin, having in the upper Wall a dovetail groove, (3, in combination with the tripping device E, placed in the said slot, having the head F, central elongated slot, G, and the sloping cavity H, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown. I

2. In car-couplers, the draw-head provided with the rear enlarged cavity, A, having in the upper Wall the dovetail-slot O and cavity D, with the tripping device E in said slot having the head F, elongated slot G, sloping cavity H with the securing-pin I and coupling-pin L, substantially as herein shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, this 13th day of March, 1882, in the presence of witnesses.

WILLIAM G. STRUBBE.

Witnesses J. S. ZERBE, 0. J. BAILEY. 

